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Cantelmi MC, Merola C, Averaimo D, Chiaverini A, Cito F, Cocco A, Di Teodoro G, De Angelis ME, Di Bernardo D, Auzino D, Petrini A. Identification of the Novel Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus Sequence Type 525 in Donkeys of Abruzzo Region, Italy. Pathogens 2023; 12:750. [PMID: 37375440 PMCID: PMC10305129 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12060750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus equi sub. zooepidemicus (SEZ) is described as a commensal bacterium of several animal species, including humans. Growing evidence supports the potential role of SEZ in the onset and progression of severe clinical manifestations of diseases in horses and other animals. In the present communication, we describe the diagnostic procedure applied to characterize the streptococcal infections caused by a novel SEZ sequence type (ST525) in donkeys raised on a farm in Abruzzo, Italy. The diagnostic process began with anamnesis and anatomopathological analysis, which revealed a severe bacterial suppurative bronchopneumonia associated with systemic vascular damage and haemorrhages. Then, SEZ infection was confirmed by applying an integrative diagnostic strategy that included standard bacterial isolation techniques, analytical tools for bacteria identification (MALDI-TOF MS), and molecular analysis (qPCR). Furthermore, the application of the whole-genome sequencing approach helped us to identify the bacterial strains and the virulence factors involved in animal diseases. The novel SEZ-ST525 was identified in two cases of the disease. This new sequence type was isolated from the lung, liver, and spleen in Case 1, and from retropharyngeal lymph nodes in Case 2. Moreover, the presence of the virulence gene mf2, a virulence factor carried by prophages in Streptococcus pyogenes, was also found for the first time in an SEZ strain. The results of the present study highlight the need to apply an integrated diagnostic approach for the identification and tracking of pathogenic strains of SEZ, shedding new light on the re-evaluation of these bacteria as a causative agent of disease in animals and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Chiara Cantelmi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.C.C.); (D.A.); (A.C.); (F.C.); (A.C.); (G.D.T.); (M.E.D.A.); (A.P.)
- Department of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Carmine Merola
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.C.C.); (D.A.); (A.C.); (F.C.); (A.C.); (G.D.T.); (M.E.D.A.); (A.P.)
- Department of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Daniela Averaimo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.C.C.); (D.A.); (A.C.); (F.C.); (A.C.); (G.D.T.); (M.E.D.A.); (A.P.)
| | - Alexandra Chiaverini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.C.C.); (D.A.); (A.C.); (F.C.); (A.C.); (G.D.T.); (M.E.D.A.); (A.P.)
| | - Francesca Cito
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.C.C.); (D.A.); (A.C.); (F.C.); (A.C.); (G.D.T.); (M.E.D.A.); (A.P.)
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Antonio Cocco
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.C.C.); (D.A.); (A.C.); (F.C.); (A.C.); (G.D.T.); (M.E.D.A.); (A.P.)
| | - Giovanni Di Teodoro
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.C.C.); (D.A.); (A.C.); (F.C.); (A.C.); (G.D.T.); (M.E.D.A.); (A.P.)
| | - Maria Elisabetta De Angelis
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.C.C.); (D.A.); (A.C.); (F.C.); (A.C.); (G.D.T.); (M.E.D.A.); (A.P.)
| | | | - Davide Auzino
- Freelance Veterinary Practitioner, 65019 Pescara, Italy; (D.D.B.); (D.A.)
| | - Antonio Petrini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale”, Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.C.C.); (D.A.); (A.C.); (F.C.); (A.C.); (G.D.T.); (M.E.D.A.); (A.P.)
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Rotinsulu DA, Ewers C, Kerner K, Amrozi A, Soejoedono RD, Semmler T, Bauerfeind R. Molecular Features and Antimicrobial Susceptibilities of Streptococcus equi ssp. equi Isolates from Strangles Cases in Indonesia. Vet Sci 2023; 10:vetsci10010049. [PMID: 36669050 PMCID: PMC9867300 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10010049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Strangles, caused by Streptococcus equi ssp. equi (S. equi equi), is a highly infectious and frequent disease of equines worldwide. No data are available regarding the molecular epidemiology of strangles in Indonesia. This study aimed to characterize S. equi equi isolates obtained from suspected strangles cases in Indonesia in 2018. Isolates originated from seven diseased horses on four different farms located in three provinces of Indonesia. Whole genome sequences of these isolates were determined and used for seM typing, multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and core genome MLS typing (cgMLST). Genomes were also screened for known antimicrobial resistance genes and genes encoding for the recombinant antigens used in the commercial Strangvac® subunit vaccine. All seven S. equi equi isolates from Indonesia belonged to ST179 and carried seM allele 166. Isolates differed from each other by only 2 to 14 cgSNPs and built an exclusive sub-cluster within the Bayesian Analysis of Population Structure (BAPS) cluster 2 (BAPS-2) of the S. equi equi cgMLST scheme. All isolates revealed predicted amino acid sequence identity to seven and high similarity to one of the eight antigen fragments contained in Strangvac®. Furthermore, all isolates were susceptible to beta-lactam antibiotics penicillin G, ampicillin, and ceftiofur. Our data suggest that the horses from this study were affected by strains of the same novel sublineage within globally distributed BAPS-2 of S. equi equi. Nevertheless, penicillin G can be used as a first-choice antibiotic against these strains and Strangvac® may also be protective against Indonesian strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dordia Anindita Rotinsulu
- Institute for Hygiene and Infectious Diseases of Animals, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, IPB University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
- Correspondence: or
| | - Christa Ewers
- Institute for Hygiene and Infectious Diseases of Animals, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Katharina Kerner
- Institute for Hygiene and Infectious Diseases of Animals, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Amrozi Amrozi
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, IPB University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
| | | | - Torsten Semmler
- NG-1 Microbial Genomics, Robert Koch Institute, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Rolf Bauerfeind
- Institute for Hygiene and Infectious Diseases of Animals, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
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Frequency of Detection and Prevalence Factors Associated with Common Respiratory Pathogens in Equids with Acute Onset of Fever and/or Respiratory Signs (2008–2021). Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11070759. [PMID: 35890002 PMCID: PMC9317490 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11070759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
A voluntary biosurveillance program was established in 2008 in order to determine the shedding frequency and prevalence factors for common respiratory pathogens associated with acute onset of fever and/or respiratory signs in equids from the USA. Over a period of 13 years, a total of 10,296 equids were enrolled in the program and nasal secretions were analyzed for the qPCR detection of equine influenza virus (EIV), equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1), EHV-4, equine rhinitis A and B virus (ERVs), and Streptococcus equi subspecies equi (S. equi). Single infections with respiratory pathogens were detected in 21.1% of the submissions with EIV (6.8%) and EHV-4 (6.6%) as the two most prevalent viruses, followed by S. equi (4.7%), ERVs (2.3%), and EHV-1 (0.7%). Multiple pathogens were detected in 274 horses (2.7%) and no respiratory pathogens in 7836 horses (76.2%). Specific prevalence factors were determined for each of the six respiratory pathogen groups; most differences were associated with age, breed, and use of the horses, while the clinical signs were fairly consistent between viral and bacterial respiratory infections. Monitoring the frequency of detection of common respiratory pathogens is important in order to gain a better understanding of their epidemiology and to implement management practices aimed at controlling disease spread.
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Wang T, Hu L, Wang Y, Liu W, Liu G, Zhu M, Zhang W, Wang C, Ren H, Li L. Identification of equine herpesvirus 8 in donkey abortion: a case report. Virol J 2022; 19:10. [PMID: 34991640 PMCID: PMC8734136 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-021-01738-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Equine herpesvirus-8 (EHV-8) is one of the most economically significant viruses that infect mammals of the genus Equus worldwide, which cause severe respiratory diseases and abortion in horses. However, there is no report of abortion caused by EHV-8 in donkeys. Case presentation The present case report is about a 4-year-old donkey having an abortion and showing a serious respiratory issue on the 296th day of pregnancy. Bacteriological and molecular tests were used to screen possible bacterial/viral pathogens to detect the etiological agent. Salmonella abortus equi, EHV-1, EHV-4, and EAV were all negative in the current study. EHV-8, on the other hand, was the only agent that was isolated and identified. Conclusions This was for the first time that EHV-8 had been isolated from a donkey in China. EHV-8 infection can cause abortion in donkeys; therefore, veterinarians and breeders should be aware of it. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12985-021-01738-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tongtong Wang
- Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, College of Agronomy, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, China
| | - Leyu Hu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yonghui Wang
- Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, College of Agronomy, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, China
| | - Wenqiang Liu
- Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, College of Agronomy, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, China
| | - Guiqin Liu
- Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, College of Agronomy, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, China
| | - Mingxia Zhu
- Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, College of Agronomy, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Dairy Cattle Research Center, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ji'nan, 250100, China
| | - Changfa Wang
- Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, College of Agronomy, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, China.
| | - Huiying Ren
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China.
| | - Liangliang Li
- Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, College of Agronomy, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, China.
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Rickards K, Toribio RE. Clinical insights: Recent advances in donkey medicine and welfare. Equine Vet J 2021; 53:859-862. [PMID: 34355829 DOI: 10.1111/evj.13471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Karen Rickards
- Veterinary Department, The Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth, Devon, UK
| | - Ramiro E Toribio
- College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
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6
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Donkey Industry in China: Current Aspects, Suggestions and Future Challenges. J Equine Vet Sci 2021; 102:103642. [PMID: 34119208 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Donkey domestication has been essential to human culture and development and has played an important role in economic and social life in human history. China is one of the largest donkey breeders worldwide; donkey farming for meat, milk and hide production is becoming an important industry in rural China as it provides income to the rural livelihoods of many people. Currently, the donkey industry in China is small and relatively young, but it is growing fast. The industry is not adequately exploited economically, which means that it requires the diminution of its role in the traditional activities of rural households and a reorientation towards a more profitable industry. Given the growing importance of the donkey industry in rural China, this paper aims to outline the current situations of the donkey industry in China in terms of animal stock, breeds and distribution, donkey products, suggestions and future challenges to the development of the donkey industry.
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Zhu Y, Chen S, Yi Z, Holyoak R, Wang T, Ding Z, Li J. Nasopharyngeal Microbiomes in Donkeys Shedding Streptococcus equi Subspecies equi in Comparison to Healthy Donkeys. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:645627. [PMID: 33969039 PMCID: PMC8100518 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.645627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (S. equi) is the pathogen causing strangles, a highly infectious disease that can affect equids including donkeys of all ages. It can persistently colonize the upper respiratory tract of animals asymptomatically for years, which serves as a source of infection. Several strangles outbreaks have been reported in the donkey industry in China in the last few years and pose a great threat to health, production, and the welfare of donkeys. Nasopharyngeal swab samples for culture and PCR are used widely in strangles diagnosis. Additionally, microbiomes within and on the body are essential to host homoeostasis and health. Therefore, the microbiome of the equid nasopharynx may provide insights into the health of the upper respiratory tract in animals. There has been no study investigating the nasopharyngeal microbiome in healthy donkeys, nor in donkeys shedding S. equi. This study aimed to compare nasopharyngeal microbiomes in healthy and carrier donkeys using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Nasopharyngeal samples were obtained from 16 donkeys recovered from strangles (group S) and 14 healthy donkeys with no history of strangles exposure (group H). Of those sampled, 7 donkeys were determined to be carriers with positive PCR and culture results in group S. In group H, all 14 donkeys were considered free of strangles based on the history of negative exposure, negative results of PCR and culture. Samples from these 21 donkeys were used for microbial analysis. The nasopharyngeal microbiome composition was compared between the two groups. At the phylum level, relative abundance of Proteobacteria was predominantly higher in the S. equi carrier donkeys than in healthy donkeys (P < 0.01), while Firmicutes and Actinobacteria were significantly less abundant in the S. equi carrier donkeys than in healthy donkeys (P < 0.05). At the genus level, Nicoletella was detected in the upper respiratory tract of donkeys for the first time and dominated in carrier donkeys. It is suspected to suppress other normal flora of URT microbiota including Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., and Corynebacterium spp. We concluded that the nasopharyngeal microbiome in S. equi carrier donkeys still exhibited microbial dysbiosis, which might predispose them to other airway diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiping Zhu
- Equine Clinical Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Shulei Chen
- Equine Clinical Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Ziwen Yi
- Equine Clinical Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Reed Holyoak
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United States
| | - Tao Wang
- Dong-E-E-Jiao Co., Ltd., Dong-E County, China
| | | | - Jing Li
- Equine Clinical Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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Jerele S, Davis E, Mapes S, Pusterla N, Navas González FJ, Iglesias Pastrana C, Abdelfattah EM, McLean A. Survey of Serum Amyloid A and Bacterial and Viral Frequency Using qPCR Levels in Recently Captured Feral Donkeys from Death Valley National Park (California). Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10061086. [PMID: 32585994 PMCID: PMC7341296 DOI: 10.3390/ani10061086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Feral donkey removal from state land has raised concerns in terms of disease transmission between equine species. Disease outbreaks may occur as a result of the relocation of animals to new environments. Virus and bacteria DNA load and serum amyloid A derived from the pathogenic processes that they involve were measured in recently captured donkeys. Blood and nasal swabs were collected from 85 donkeys (Death Valley National Park, Shoshone, California); 24 were retested after 30/60 days in the Scenic (Arizona) long-term holding facility co-mingled with feral donkeys from Arizona and Utah. Quantitative Real-Time PCR (qPCR) was performed to detect viral and bacterial genomic material (equine influenza A [EIV], equine rhinitis A and B viruses, AHV-2, AHV-3, AHV-5 and EHV-1, EHV-4, Streptococcus equi subspecies equi and zooepidemicus,). Significant relations between behavior, body condition score, nasal discharge, and coughing were found in donkeys for which AHV-2 and Streptococcus zooepidemicus DNA was detected. Higher SAA concentrations were found in foals. AHV-2 and Streptococcus zooepidemicus DNA concentrations significantly differed between sampling moments (p < 0.05). In conclusion, donkeys do not appear to be a substantial risk for disease transmission to horses but could be if they carried strangles or other processes in which AHV-2 and Streptococcus zooepidemicus were involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Jerele
- International Animal Welfare Training Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95617, USA; (S.J.); (E.D.)
| | - Eric Davis
- International Animal Welfare Training Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95617, USA; (S.J.); (E.D.)
| | - Samantha Mapes
- Equine Viral Disease Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95617, USA; (S.M.); (N.P.)
| | - Nicola Pusterla
- Equine Viral Disease Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95617, USA; (S.M.); (N.P.)
| | - Francisco Javier Navas González
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain;
- The Worldwide Donkey Breeds Project, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
- Correspondence: (F.J.N.G.); (A.M.); Tel.: +34-651-679-262 (F.J.N.G.); +1706-296-8743 (A.M.)
| | - Carlos Iglesias Pastrana
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain;
- The Worldwide Donkey Breeds Project, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Essam Mahmoud Abdelfattah
- Department of Animal Hygiene, and Veterinary Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Qalubiya Governorate 13511, Egypt;
| | - Amy McLean
- The Worldwide Donkey Breeds Project, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
- Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Correspondence: (F.J.N.G.); (A.M.); Tel.: +34-651-679-262 (F.J.N.G.); +1706-296-8743 (A.M.)
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Tartor YH, El-Naenaeey ESY, Gharieb NM, Ali WS, Ammar AM. Novel Streptococcus equi strains causing strangles outbreaks in Arabian horses in Egypt. Transbound Emerg Dis 2020; 67:2455-2466. [PMID: 32304282 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Strangles displays a major challenge to veterinary medicine worldwide. However, no data on Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (S. equi) M protein alleles have been reported so far from Arabian horses. We report here for the first time the S. equi SeM alleles causing strangles in Arabian horses, and the associated risk factors for the disease. Duplicate samples from one hundred Arabian horses with acute strangles in confirmed outbreaks and sporadic cases were analysed by phenotypic methods and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting streptokinase precursor, seeI and sodA genes. PCR and sequencing of S. equi SeM gene were employed for strains typing, and the four superantigens were determined among the allelic variants. Direct-sample PCR confirmed and highly positively correlated (r = .85) with the phenotypic results, and detected S. equi in five samples more than the conventional culture. A combination of multiplex PCR from samples and culture could successfully identify S. equi (92%), S. zooepidemicus (5%) and S. equisimilis (3%). SeM typing demonstrated five SeM alleles, including four previously unidentified alleles that were deposited in the PubMLST-SeM database. SeM-139 and SeM-141 are related to some strains that were recently recovered from donkeys in China. SeM-140 and SeM-199 are related to a group of alleles from horses in Europe. Variation in the presence of seeM, seeH and seeL superantigens was found across the four novel alleles without interference with the severity of strangles and clinical presentation seen in different outbreaks. Horse age was the most important factor in developing strangles, followed by seasonality and the diagnosis of strangles in the previous year. These new findings comprise a significant contribution to the horse industry through the identification of novel S. equi SeM types that may bolster measures for strangles control as the identified SeM alleles will certainly help in the development of SeM-containing vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmine H Tartor
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44511, Egypt
| | - El-Sayed Y El-Naenaeey
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44511, Egypt
| | - Nesreen M Gharieb
- Department of Animal Management and Treatment, Kafr Saqr Veterinary Administration, Sharkia Governorate, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Wessam S Ali
- Department of Animal Management and Treatment, Diarb Negm Veterinary Administration, Sharkia Governorate, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Ahmed M Ammar
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44511, Egypt
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Bennett R, Pfuderer S. The Potential for New Donkey Farming Systems to Supply the Growing Demand for Hides. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E718. [PMID: 32326062 PMCID: PMC7222848 DOI: 10.3390/ani10040718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The demand for donkey hides for ejiao, a Traditional Chinese Medicine, has resulted in rapidly increasing prices for donkey hides and donkeys. This has put pressure on donkey populations globally and has implications for donkey welfare and the livelihoods of those who rely on donkeys as working animals. The aim of the research was to explore the feasibility of setting up new donkey farming systems to supply the rising demand for ejiao using a system dynamics model of donkey production. Results show that the size of the initial female breeding herd, reproductive performance, age of reproduction, percentage of female births and average breeding life of donkeys are key variables affecting the time to build up the donkey population to supply the demand for hides, which will be at least ten to fifteen years. The implications of this are: (i) prices for donkey hides will continue to increase, (ii) companies producing ejiao will use other ingredients, (iii) China will continue to source donkey hides from around the world, and (iv) there will be continued theft and illegal trade of donkeys and concerns for rural households reliant on donkeys for their livelihoods and adverse impacts on donkey welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Bennett
- School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AR, UK;
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